The Min opera Mr. Painted Hairnet is adapted from Dai Mingshi’s Qing-dynasty historical prose. It tells of the late-Ming scholar Feng Sheng, who resists intimidation and temptation, paints a hairnet in prison to declare his principles and ultimately sacrifices his life for righteousness. The hairnet links ritual, culture, and spiritual faith, shaping the image of an intellectual who preserves national resilience in a time of turmoil. Blending the three stylistic traditions of Min opera — Rulin, the literati style; Jianghu, the itinerant folk-troupe style; and Pingjiang, the vernacular style — the work combines intellectual depth with literary refinement. It has won major honors including the Cao Yu Award for Drama Scripts and the Wenhua Award for Playwriting, displaying in full the unique artistic appeal of Fujian-school theater.
